Similar to my mural work, which celebrates natural forms within urban landscapes, my interior design aesthetic combines colour blocking with natural elements. I blend the textures of wood and fabrics with bold, complementary colour schemes to create balance.

Home by the sea

There’s a hint of cottage-core in me, having grown up near a forest on the edge of the Peak District. I’m naturally drawn to 70s wicker and gingham linen, but the artist in me loves to celebrate contemporary, abstract design.

Having a flat in St Leonards-on-Sea feels like the ultimate artist’s escape. The Georgian features of the flat heavily influence the space, but it’s been exciting to draw inspiration from the interior paintings at Charleston and add pops of colour throughout. Since moving in at the end of September 2024, I’ve enjoyed taking moments to play with styling the space. There’s still so much character I’d like to add, but with budget restrictions, we’re slowly transforming the flat one innovative idea at a time.

I’m especially proud of the double bed bunk beds my partner and I commissioned from a carpenter. It’s been a dream of ours to have a setup like this - allowing us to prioritise our sleep while still enjoying the comfort of close proximity. In such a small space, this solution works wonders!

I need a hands-on approach to my design process, which is why I love cutting, arranging, and sticking magazines, papers, and stickers to spark ideas. Sometimes, a small motif or detail within the collages inspires a fragment of my design.
I’m particularly drawn to the canal boat interiors on my mood board - they remind me of when my partner and I lived on a canal boat and fell in love with that way of life. We toyed with the idea of living on a canal boat long-term, but I’m glad we eventually chose bricks and mortar instead.

Commercial INTERIOR design

I love creating balance in spaces, which I achieve by focusing on form and shape in my interior design work. I'm inspired by my collage design projects, which are all about creating flow and harmony through shapes. I weave this same approach into my interior design style.

Interior Design Illustration by Molly Hawkins for JOY.

I’ve been enjoying collaborating with my partner, Theo Passingham to learn how to create 3D renders of my ideas and sketches. Below is a design concept for an interior art sculpture and play piece for the JOY project, where I’m working as the visual design consultant.

A SPACE FOR CREATIVITY

You can’t just colour block – you need something with character and curiosity. It’s important to celebrate market crafts, emerging artists, and traditional folk artworks in interior design…

I’m obsessed with circles! There’s something about their infinite energy and calming nature that brings me peace and reflection. Being in love with the moon and sun, I feel circles hold a deep, emotive energy.

Bristol ARTIST Studio

My previous studio space in Bristol was a true hub of creativity, where I worked on my own creative projects as well as hosted numerous craft workshop. Filled with colour and shapes, I completely transformed the studio with features including a blue-painted floor, a feature mural, and a range of bespoke artworks by me, including tapestries, cushions, paintings, and more.

HASTINGS ARTIST STUDIO

Located on the inspiring, gallery-filled Norman Road, just one street away from the seafront, I recently transformed this industrial space with the iconic Electric Blue Yes Colours paint, complemented by soft pink tones.

PENNYWELL STUDIO

My first studio in Bristol was a delightful ochre nook, tucked away on an open warehouse floor, divided by pallets and wooden sheets. This space brought me so much joy, but I quickly outgrew it as I dreamed of having a space entirely my own - where I could dance, sing, and paint my own mural. While I loved the social aspect of the space, I longed for somewhere I could also run workshops.

Photograph by Tom Ham as part of a photo series of artist studios in Bristol.

Building Creative Worlds

In theatre design you build a world for a character, and in interior design you build a world for a tenant! They are the same thing!

Below is a project from my time at LIPA creating the set for A Street Car Named Desire.

Colour, Texture, and Form in Interior Design